Khuzestan Tour Packages & Travel Information

Khuzestan Province

Khuzestan is a province in south of Iran that is bordered by Lorestan Province to the north, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province to the east, Ilam Province to the northwest, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province to the southeast, Bandar Bushehr and the Persian Gulf to the south, and the country of Iraq to the west.

The city of Ahvaz

Ahvaz is the provincial capital of Khuzestan. Ahvaz is the fifth-largest city in Iran. The city of Ahvaz is divided into two Eastern and Western parts by Karun River that is crossing the city. The temperature in Ahvaz reaches about 50 degrees Celsius above zero during the hottest days and 5 degrees Celsius below zero during the coldest days.

The History of Khuzestan and the Origin of its Name

Khuzestan Province is one of the oldest regions of the Iran plateau. According to some evidence, this region dates back to the third millennium BC, and it is one of the first regions in which the Ancient Elamite civilization was formed.

The name ‘Khuzestan’ is derived from the word ‘Khoozi’ and means the “land of Khoozi people”. This name has been given to the region in different forms, and it is even used repeatedly in the inscriptions of the Achaemenid era.

Cities in this province such as Susa, which is part of the ancient city of Susa, the Achaemenid capital, refers to the long history of this region.

Historical Tourist Attractions in Khuzestan

Due to its long history, Khuzestan province has many ancient monuments, including:

Chogha Zanbil

Chogha Zanbil is the first temple complex in Iran, built in 1250 BC. It is the first historical monument that has been registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site, so it is globally important too.

This place was first discovered by a New Zealander in 1936. The temple is a nested structure surrounded by three concentric ramparts. The main temple is located in the center of the building, surrounded by other temples, and tombs at the last rampart.

Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System

Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System is one of the architectural and engineering masterpieces in Iran, which is the first engineering structure in the world. This structure was not built in a given time and it has been expanded over time. Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System was made during the Achaemenid and Sassanid era, and most of it was built in the Sassanid era.

Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System, along with 12 other monuments as a whole, has been registered on the list of UNESCO’s World heritage sites. The other monuments include:

Mizan Dam
Kolah Farangi Tower
Gargar Canal
GarGar Weir
Waterfalls and Watermills
Borj-e-Ayar Dam and Sabians holy place
Shushtar Mahi Bazan Dam (Khodaafarin Dam)
Salasel Castle
Darioon Creek
Band-e Kaisar (Shadrovan bridge)
Band-e-khak
Lashkar Bridge and Shah Ali Bridge
Sharabdar Dam

Palace of Darius in Susa

This palace is one of the palaces of the Achaemenids, constructed in 521 to 515 BC by order of Darius the Great. In the Achaemenid era, this palace was used as the Winter Palace.

This Palace has brick walls and stone columns.

Tomb of Daniel

Susa is one of the ancient cities in Iran, dating back to more than 4,000 years ago. One of the historical places in this city is tomb of Daniel, the Jewish prophet.

Susa was a prosperous and flourished city in Achaemenid era, but after the fall of the Achaemenid Empire by Alexander the Macedonian, the city lost its prosperity and became like a village.

Shush Castle

Salasel Castle

Weather in Khuzestan Province

Since part of it is located on a mountainous area, Khuzestan province has different climates in different regions, so that the maximum temperature recorded in the province is 53°C to 42°C above the sea level and the minimum temperature is 0 to minus 8°C.

How to Reach Khuzestan Province

Khuzestan Province is easily accessible by land, rail and air:

Ahvaz airport hosts flights from different cities in Iran and also the countries neighboring the Persian Gulf, including UAE.

One of the best land routes from Tehran to Ahvaz is:

Tehran, Qom, Arak, Khorramabad, Dezful, Ahvaz: about 810 km